MarketWatch.com: Ashanti, the multi-platinum Grammy-Award winning singer/songwriter and actress and singer/songwriter Jason Mraz, along with Natasha Bedingfield, Moby, Chuck D, Chris Cornell, Tony Hawk, Colbie Caillat, Darius Rucker, Sara Bareilles, Sean Kingston, Matt White, Julie Roberts, Diana Page, and Krista, joined with Strong American Schools and YouCast to launch a series of public service announcements by top talent and music artists to raise awareness of the American education crisis and to urge America’s leaders to fix failing schools throughout the United States.

The PSAs featuring Ashanti and Mraz and other talent are available at StrongAmericanSchools.org, YouTube and other partner sites (see below) from now until the November 4 election. These are the first in a series of 15 PSAs that will be released in the coming weeks. The public service campaign aims to stimulate the national debate about and draw attention to the need for education reform.

“Education is very important,” said Ashanti. “The honors classes I took in high school taught me to push myself and gave me the drive to be where I am today.”

The best opportunities will go to the best educated, no matter where they live,” said Mraz. “Strong American Schools is working to ensure students across America graduate prepared for college, work and life and I am happy to join with them in this effort.”

“Good teachers are so valuable and needed” said Bedingfield. “It is essential to a person’s development while in school and for their future to have good teaching with the right tools. We need to make sure all teachers are provided with necessary resources so that their students can be given the best chance. Kids today are tomorrow’s leaders.”

“Strong American Schools is excited to partner with many talented artists to create a YouCast forum for discussion on education reform,” said Governor Roy Romer, Chairman of Strong American Schools. “Education is a defining issue for the future of our country. As citizens, we must insist fixing American schools be a top priority for our political leaders because America is only as strong as its schools.”

Strong American Schools is a nonpartisan public awareness and advocacy campaign aimed at elevating discussion among America’s leaders about the need for education reform. The organization, which is funded by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, seeks to unite all Americans around the crucial mission of improving the nation’s public schools by promoting increased time and support for student learning and common, rigorous standards as well as ensuring there is an effective teacher in every classroom.

Social media partners and web products in the YouCast network supporting the campaign include Bridgit.com, Meez.com, Meebo.com, SodaHead.com, RockYou.com and Mixercast.

For more information about Strong American Schools, please go to www.edin08.com.

Strong American Schools, a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, is a nonpartisan campaign supported by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation promoting sound education policies for all Americans. SAS does not support or oppose any candidate for public office and does not take positions on legislation.

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